Will Arvind Kejriwal's govt survive the trust vote?

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will face a crucial vote of confidence on Thursday in the Delhi assembly.

The Delhi assembly on Wednesday completed the formality of oath-taking by the members, including the chief minister and other ministers, with senior Congress member Matin Ahmed functioning as the pro-tem Speaker.

Ahead of Thursday's vote, the Congress made it clear that it will continue its support to the Aam Aadmi Party government and there was no question of reviewing its decision.

"We had decided to support the AAP government from outside and we are not reviewing our decision. We stand by our decision. There is no threat to the government from our side," said Delhi Pradesh Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely.

He termed as "misplaced" Kejriwal's apprehension -- that his government has only 48 hours to deliver on its promises.

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The AAP has 28 Members of Legislative Assembly and needs at least eight MLAs to achieve the required majority of 36 in a House of 70.

While the Congress has eight MLAs, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally Shiromani Akali Dal have a total of 32 MLAs. The Janata Dal – United -- which has offered the support of its lone MLA to the government -- and an Independent account for the remaining two members.

The oath taking was not without its share of controversy, with members from the Congress and the BJP objecting to Kejriwal leaving the House shortly after taking oath.

In keeping with his unconventional style, the chief minister took the oath first, went to the Speaker's podium and came back to his seat after greeting BJP leader Harsh Vardhan.

He left the House within a couple of minutes.

Kejriwal was later criticised by BJP and Congress MLAs for not showing due “courtesy”.

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After the confidence vote, the ruling AAP will face a tougher task when the House elects a new speaker and deputy speaker.

While the AAP has chosen M S Dhir as its candidate for the speaker's post, the BJP appears all set to field its candidate. The party had already refused the pro-tem speaker's post.

A lot of enthusiasm was witnessed on Wednesday among the AAP MLAs, all of them first-timers. However, there was no bonhomie among AAP legislators and MLAs from other parties.

Some of the Congress MLAs claimed that the AAP legislators violated the decorum of the House by wearing their trademark Gandhi caps.

"Wearing caps is not allowed inside the House. They do not have any regard for the decorum of the House. One AAP member was even talking on the phone when the proceedings were going on," said a Congress MLA.

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Almost all the AAP MLAs, including a number of ministers, had come to the House wearing Gandhi caps.

Majority of AAP MLAs came to the assembly riding on the Metro, along with their supporters, while one legislator arrived in a battery-operated rickshaw.

Rajesh Garg, AAP MLA from Rohini constituency, said he travelled 16 km on the rickshaw to reach the assembly. The rickshaw was covered with AAP posters and fitted with brooms -- the party's election symbol.

Garg, who was in the Congress until recently, said his supporters in Rohini had gifted him the vehicle and he has been using it for the last couple of months.

"People of my constituency have given me the rickshaw. I do not even have a scooter," said Garg.

Some AAP MLAs were seen clapping when Kejriwal was taking oath, but they were stopped by a senior BJP MLA.

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